Hoboken Veteran Pulled Pigeon Prank: Remembering George Beeres

Hoboken NJ

03 November, 2021

11:19 AM

Description

Press release from Dennis Sevano: Nov. 3, 2021 George Kevin Beeres was born on January 3, 1942, and was killed in action February 11, 1966 in Viet Nam. He was part of the U.S. Army Light Weapon Infantry and during his combat stay received a Purple Heart, American Gold Star among other military commendations. Mr. Beeres was one of the many veterans who enlisted serving in the armed services during the South East Asia conflict which lasted for about twenty years. His military nobility made Holy by volunteering rendering his body much like the others from Hoboken who never returned to Washington Street to walk past the Town Lunch, Geismer's clothing store or grabbing a pizza pie at Leo's. While George was certainly remembered for the ultimate example of service hood, what made him a somewhat legend at Demarest High School in The Mile Square City was the incident in the spring in the late 50's. An Our Lady of Grace Elementary School graduate he was a solid sandlot ball player and some how enjoyed living on the wild side of pranksters. Hoboken at that time had a fondness for hobbying pigeons, yes birds, much like the Oscar winning "On the Waterfront " filmed in our city. Terry Malloy, played by Marlon Brando raised and cared for the smart birds on the River Street rooftops. Well George was feeling a little frisky and bored during a spring day decided to have some real fun at Demarest High School. According to many sources, Beeres slipped into the auditorium unnoticed with a number of pigeons feeding them enough nuts and berries to sedate them until the student boy arrived for the regular school meeting. The assembly commenced and Fred Kolb, the music director opened the piano lid and the pigeons came a flying. The staff and undergraduates were in temporary shock, then the uncontrollable laughter ensued while the pigeons proceeded to deplane their fertilizer droppings on the Red Wings. Needless to say, it didn't take a "Law and Order" inquiry to arrive in George's lap as he owned up to what might have been one of the largest pranks in school history. Mr. Beeres stood up and took his punishment -let's say he never saw the inside of Demarest after that. Little did anyone realize his mentally creative skills were of Hoboken Lore and that George would be the righteous soldier who did what so few of us could imagine in the name of service-life for country! "America without her soldiers would be like God without her angels." Thanks to the Hobokenites who served in Vietnam and beyond. This press release was produced by Dennis Sevano. The views expressed here are the author's own.